Sin With Cuffs (21 page)

Although the slurring was gone from her words, and her eyes weren’t as glossy, he knew she was legally drunk and that meant off limits. If he walked inside it was hard to tell where things would lead and it was easier not to be in that unsafe position. “It’s late and I’ve got an early morning planned.”

“Or maybe you just don’t want to take the chance that you and I will end up in bed.”

“Yeah, that too.” No need to deny it.

A perfect pout shimmied over her lips. “I could have my feelings hurt.”

“You shouldn’t. I think you need to sleep off your drunk. Not sex it off.” He winked.

“Oh how gentlemanly of you.” She stepped across the porch toward him. He was standing on the lower step, which made her eye level with him. “At least a kiss for the road, eh?”

He couldn’t see how a kiss could hurt and he didn’t want to disappoint her too much. He swept his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She brought her lips to his. At first, it was gentle but the intensity grew. Liam felt himself grow alive. He tipped his head back. “I’ll call you in the morning. Sleep tight.”

When she got inside, he took a deep breath. A part of him wanted to knock and tell her he’d changed his mind, but a bigger part of him knew he should do the right thing and disappear, at least for now. He had to keep his focus.

CHAPTER TWELVE

HOLLY WOKE UP with a headache from hell. She rolled over on the bed, dragging blankets along with her. The sun was up and the birds sang. Even their gentle chirps shot through her like a taser.

She heard a noise. Then she inhaled.
Coffee?
Her senses perked. Was she dreaming?

The aroma became stronger, so did the thumping of heavy boots on the stairs. Fear washed over her but quickly subsided when logical reasoning took its place. What intruder would be kind enough to break in and make her coffee?

 Holly kept her eyes on the doorway and Liam appeared carrying a tray. Excitement rolled through her. “How did you get in here?”

“It might help if you hid the key in a better place than the lock.” His brows lifted. He looked handsome in his uniform. He was cleanly shaven and she could smell masculine body wash.

“What? In the lock? Oh…”

“Now do you want to deny how drunk you were?” She’d take his words as a sermon but his humorous smile told her he was teasing her.

“I won’t argue, this raging headache won’t let me.” She rubbed her temples.

“Good thing I noticed the key before I took off last night. I thought you might like a strong cup of joe and two aspirins.”

In one hand, he held a bottle and in the other he held her favorite mug. He couldn’t have looked any sexier than he did at that moment. “You carry a gun and you make house calls. I’m a lucky woman.” She laughed and it vibrated through her sensitive head. “Ouch. I think I’ve been run over by a semi truck.”

He sat down next to her hip. “If semi’s were liquid, then I’d say Jim Beam is a very powerful one.” He opened the lid, poured two pills in his palm, and handed them to her. She took them, popped them into her mouth and swallowed.

“I’m a lightweight. Jimbo can drink.” She took the cup and drank from it, savoring the liquid deliciousness.

“He has about ten inches in height and a hundred and fifty pounds on you. And by the way, just so we’re clear, you were very foolish.”

“He’s okay, just a bit misunderstood,” she said through the steam of her coffee. “I’ve been there myself.”

“I’m going to talk to him today. I think with a bit of persuasion, outside of a bottle of booze, he’ll remember more. At least I hope so. He may be our only help at this point.”

“You look like you haven’t had your own coffee this morning. What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I need one clue to bring this case to light. I feel like it’s right under my nose. Have you had any visitors lately?”

“Visitors? No, unless you include mother and her watchdog as guests. From her standpoint, this is her house. And I should leave because you’re a bad influence.”

“Yes, your mom loves me.”

She sat up and played with one of the buttons on his shirt, inhaling his masculinity that dripped from his every pore. Her heart beat heavier and her palms became sweaty. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

“You’re hard for a man to forget.” His voice was like a well-aged scotch, smooth and hit the point. “At least this one, anyway.”

“I’d be hurt if you did.” She edged closer.

“I think you’ve been on my mind since the day I saw you playing on the rope swing here in the backyard. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t wondered where you were. What you were doing. Who you were doing it with.” His jaw clenched. “Even while I was married, I still couldn’t get you off my mind. Does that make me an adulterer?”

“When you’re only thinking of someone? I don’t think so,” she said.

“I was doing more than thinking. I was fantasizing. Your image kept me going. You’d always told me I could do anything I wanted to.”

“What do you want now?”

He blinked and swallowed. “I want you.”

“What are you waiting for?” She clutched the collar of his shirt and laid back, dragging him down with her.

“You’re a sinful woman, sweetheart,” he whispered next to her cheek.

“And you’re sin carrying cuffs and gun. It doesn’t get any more dangerous.”

He lowered his mouth to hers. Their tongues swirled in a duel of desire. She moaned as his hand slid inside her tee and cupped her bare breast in his large palm. He pulled back and trailed kisses along her jaw, down her neck and to her collarbone. “You smell so good.” His husky voice seeped through her every pore.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders. The material was a barrier. She brought her hands to the buttons and made haste in removing it. “I want you. I’ve never been on fire like this.”

He helped her remove his shirt, followed by the white tee underneath. She drank in his beauty. Broad shoulders, wide chest and the patch of glistening hair between his nipples. Starting at his collarbone, she ran the tip of her tongue along his skin until she reached one erect bud and she suckled it until he moaned. 

Shifting onto her knees, she tugged her shirt over her head. His stare was on her bare breasts and the admiration in his gaze made her feel sexy.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. Her breath held as he lowered his head and suckled one nipple. She arched against his lips as tingles formed between her thighs. He must have sensed her urgency because he slid his hand down her hip, over one thigh and gently spread her knees, forming a wide V between her legs. He slid one finger inside her, then two. “You’re so freaking wet, baby.”

She scraped the tips of her nails down his back as she clung to him, wave after wave washed over her. Her sensitive breasts ached and emotion whirled in her. He brought his hand to his mouth and licked his digits. “Oh. My. God!” She was breathless as she pushed back onto the bed. Again, he buried his fingers inside her. She rolled her hips and pressed her pussy lips against his palm. He joined his touch with his mouth and his tongue swirled her clit. She was a ball of desire, aching for something only he could give.

“Liam.” she called out his name. It was a plea for release.

He drove his tongue downward, lapping her up like he would his favorite dessert. She dug her fingers into his scalp as she moved her hips in a dance of passion. Prickly sensation twirled through her and her muscles tightened. The urgency quickened and she couldn’t breathe.  He gripped her ass, holding her steady as she bucked against the tide that overcame her.

“Let it come, sweetheart,” he whispered against her thigh. His breath and hoarse words unlocked the dam. Swept into an ocean of complete and utter pleasure, she allowed the feeling to envelop her in its gentleness and warmth.

He moved, and then he slid between her thighs. She rested in a cloud of desire as he stroked her with the tip of his cock. She opened her hips wider in summons. He pushed his sex forward, and in one smooth motion, he slid inside her opening. Another round of forbidden fervor dug its charming claws deep within her. It carried her past heaven’s gate and into pure ecstasy.

Each thrust grew hungrier and needier as his body searched for its own abyss. She brought her legs up and wrapped them high around his waist, giving him complete access. He filled her to the hilt, and she moaned as she thrust her hips. He ceased all movement, seconds passed then he plunged against her, buried his head into her shoulder and arched. A woman couldn’t ask for a more powerful moment than bringing a man to gratification.

They lay in each other’s arms for the longest time. Neither saying a word—none needed. Holly believed if either of them spoke it would ruin the perfect cloud that wrapped around them like a favorite blanket.

* * * *

Liam sat on the corner of his desk, staring at a blank faced Jimbo. He’d agreed to come in and speak to Liam, which was surprising. He’d thought the ex-con would have disappeared in fear.

“I have you on tape tossing a pipe. You know that’s against your probation,” Liam said.

“I still can’t believe Betty has a cam in the diner.” Jimbo rolled a shoulder and sighed. “If you’re going to arrest me, then let’s gett’r done.”

Liam had to give the guy credit. He had balls of steel. “I don’t want to arrest you. I want what you know about Danielle’s murder.”

Still poker faced, Jimbo said, “I don’t know anything. I told your girl everything.” He rubbed his scraggly goatee with the back of his hand.

Liam’s first thought was to deny Holly as his “girl” but he held his tongue. What was she exactly? He couldn’t call her lover. What they shared went beyond that. Feelings like they’d shared belonged to a woman that should be his wife.  It came to him with such clarity. “You okay, Chief? You look a bit pale,” Jimbo asked.

Liam drug himself back on target. “I want you to think back to anything that seemed off cue, even in the slightest before the night that Danielle was killed. Anything she said. Any behavior changes.”

Jimbo relaxed back into the chair. His brawny body barely fit in the narrow seat. “Let me get this straight. If I can help you you’re going to let the pipe slide?”

“If you help, yes.”

Jimbo threw his hands up. “But I don’t know anything.”

 “Sometimes the mind has a way of forgetting things, especially if they don’t seem important.”

The other man scratched his forehead. He hesitated then shook his head. “I really can’t think of one damned thing.”

Frustrated, Liam pushed away from the desk. “Okay. You can leave, but if you think of anything, you better call me.”

Jimbo agreed and stood up. “So I can go now?” He headed toward the door.

“Jimbo?” Liam waited for the other man to turn. “Let me make this clear. If you break your probation, or even sneeze and I suspect something, I will see you back in the slammer. Holly thinks you’ve learned your lesson so you can thank her for the second chance. Just understand there are no third chances for you. This time you’ll be looking at twenty years. A man your age would have a hard time being thrown back into that environment.”

He nodded and took off like a bat out of hell. Liam watched through the window as Jimbo disappeared through the outer door. Liam smiled. He guessed Jimbo’s balls weren’t made of steel after all. Liam had definitely seen fear in the man. The threat of long-term prison could do that to most people.